media/faq ihi-

Media FAQ

I keep hearing great things about Durham's renaissance. Where can I find more information about new things opening?

We're glad you asked! All information regarding new things happening in Durham can be found on the New Developments page.

What are some buzz-worthy establishments in Durham?

We suppose it depends on what you're looking for! Durham has a thriving dining and drinking scene, is the hub of regional entrepreneurship and technology, and is a leader in healthcare and research. Contact Margaret Pentrack, Senior Public Relations Manager, at mapentrack@durham-cvb.com or (919) 680-8326 to learn what the locals are raving about.

I need travel assistance and help setting up interviews in Durham. Can you help me?

We would be happy to consider your travel assistance request and help put you in touch with our community members. Please contact Margaret Pentrack, Senior Public Relations Manager, at mapentrack@durham-cvb.com or (919) 680-8326 to start a conversation about your visit.

I need free high-resolution photos of Durham for my publication. Where can I find those?

Free photos for print or web can be downloaded after easily setting up a free account through our online image library. These images can be used for the purpose of promoting or depicting Durham as a visitor destination. There are photos available in nearly every category, from skyline shots to food close-ups. If you don't find what you're looking for there, please contact Betsy O'Malley at betsy@durham-nc.com or (919) 680-1387.

Why can't I use the term Raleigh-Durham to refer to the region encompassing Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill?

Firstly, because it's inaccurate. "Raleigh-Durham" is the name of the international airport that is co-owned by the cities of Durham and Raleigh as well as Durham and Wake Counties. It is most accurate to refer to the region encompassing Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill as the "Research Triangle," or the "North Carolina Triangle region."

Second, the term Raleigh-Durham is misleading to those outside of North Carolina, who truly do not know that Raleigh and Durham are two separate and distinct cities located 28 miles apart. The term Raleigh-Durham perpetuates the misperception that Raleigh and Durham are a singular place.

Thirdly, Raleigh-Durham is a misused, shorthand term for the two-metro Raleigh-Durham-Cary combined statistical area, the former five-county Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan statistical area (redefined in 2003), or Nielsen's Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville designated market area. In addition, not only is shortening the region's name misleading to readers, but scientific surveys show it is objectionable to area residents. More than 75% of the people in the Triangle prefer to characterize their residence by a specific town or city name rather than the regional designation.

I need data about Durham to include in my story. Where can I find that?

The Durham Research & Statistics Portal is the best place to look for additional information about Durham. Learn more about visitor habits, demographics, and public perception studies.

I'm planning on filming in Durham. Are there locations I should consider, and do I need to get special permission or a permit?

Durham is a picture perfect with dozens of locations that are ideal for a film shoot. Filming in Durham is relatively easy and does not require permits unless streets will be blocked or special effects will be done. Gaining permission is recommended for filming on private property. Productions must register with the NC Film Office. More information about filming can be found on our film page.

What is the Research Triangle or Triangle?

It is a term first coined to refer to the proximity of three major research universities to Durham-based Research Triangle Park - Duke University in Durham, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. "Triangle" also has been broadened to refer to the three college towns themselves (Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh), or the resulting region. The Research Triangle region is "a family of communities" centered around two metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) - the four-county Durham-Chapel Hill MSA and the three-county Raleigh-Cary MSA.

Do you fly into Raleigh to get to Durham?

No, the municipal airport in Raleigh closed years ago. Both Durham and Raleigh are served by co-owned Raleigh-Durham International Airport, located midway between the two cities near Morrisville, N.C.

Is Research Triangle Park (RTP) located between Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill?

No, it is equidistant from the three major universities located in those cities, but the park is based in Durham County and encompassed on three sides by the City of Durham. A relatively new portion is spilling down toward the cities of Cary and Morrisville. It is most accurate to say that RTP is in Durham and midway between Chapel Hill and Raleigh.

Is Durham a typical "Southern" city?

Not really. Durham has Southern traditions and hospitality, but it always has been a diverse and tolerant community. Durham has been enriched by several immigrations, including Scots-Irish in the 18th century, African Americans and Russian Jews in the 19th century, Latin Americans in the 20th century, and many others. Duke University and Research Triangle Park still bring Durham new residents from all over the world.

What is the media coverage area for broadcast media serving Durham?

The designated market area (DMA) for Durham also covers 22 other counties, including parts of Virginia: it is huge in geographic area. It is officially called Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville for its three largest cities.

Why is Research Triangle Park (RTP) often datelined like a city by local media?

Despite its ever-growing reputation, RTP is simply a business park, not a city nor other municipality. To be most accurate, stories about RTP should be datelined "Durham, NC," the nearest major city. Stories also could be accurately datelined "Durham at Research Triangle Park." Some media get confused by the Durham postal substation called "RTP, NC 27709" and mislabel the park as a city. No doubt other media that steadfastly insist on the misuse of datelines have an ulterior motive of signaling Raleigh's dominance in the region. Fortunately, the Triangle always has been distinctively polycentric, with no single dominant city - a geographical fact reinforced by the Federal government's 2003 MSA definitions, which created one metro centered around Durham and another called Raleigh-Cary.

Is a Raleigh-Durham dateline appropriate?

No, the dateline for Raleigh-Durham International Airport stories should be "Morrisville, NC" or "Raleigh-Durham International Airport, NC." A dateline for the region should be "Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill," "Raleigh-Durham-Cary," or "Research Triangle Region, NC."

Why do some places in Durham have street addresses using the names of other cities?

A US Postal Service official misassigned these addresses, and they are continuously being corrected. The official either believed that addresses don't need to synchronize with actual physical locations or mistakenly believed that southeast Durham is Morrisville, southwestern Durham is Chapel Hill, northwestern Durham is Hillsborough, and northeastern Durham is Butner. In any respect, it has been a source of great confusion both for media and for visitors.

How are magazine rankings compiled?

In the best case, rankings are compiled objectively by an outside consultant, and in the worst case, they are compiled subjectively by a few people at the publication. Most rankings that treat "Raleigh-Durham" as a city are not really rankings of cities but of multicommunity metro areas, such as the eight-county Raleigh-Durham-Cary combined statistical area (CSA). There are some rankings that do measure individual cities, but they should use the true name of a city (e.g., Durham or Raleigh). Some rankings that refer to Raleigh are really measurements of an entire region, which may include Durham, Cary, and/or Chapel Hill.